Once again, Denise Charles-Pemberton, the so-called Minister for Tourism, proves that she is out of touch, incompetent, and more interested in political survival than the future of Dominica. The latest scandal? Giving away eleven fishing boats in her own constituency.
But let us be brutally clear, fishing has nothing to do with tourism. And this is not just poor judgment, it is a calculated, desperate attempt to buy votes ahead of an election she fears losing.
Eleven fishermen in Soufrière, her backyard, her voters are suddenly gifted boats. Why? Because Denise is terrified of losing political ground and thinks she can secure loyalty with token gifts. And who greenlights this nonsense? Skerrit himself, of course.
We now see a disturbing pattern, both Denise Charles-Pemberton and Skerrit’s wife are being funded at the expense of the nation, each using their ministries as personal piggy banks while Dominica struggles.
The context is damning. Melissa Skerrit’s so-called “signature” housing project has devoured hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, yet only a tiny fraction of those in need have actually received a home, let alone the keys to one.
Meanwhile, Denise Charles-Pemberton is squandering nearly three-quarters of a million dollars on fishing boats for a dying industry. This is not policy, it is a photo op. It is not development, it is bribery.
And the location of these giveaways is telling: Dublanc and Bioche. Clue time: Dublanc is no longer a fishing village. The youth have abandoned it. Old fishermen struggle to find enough fish to survive. Giving boats and land in these areas is not supporting the community, it is insulting them. It is a cynical attempt to distract from the government’s failure to create real jobs, real opportunities, and a real tourism sector that benefits everyone.
Let us ask the hard questions:
- How long does this government expect men to fish in dangerous conditions for survival wages?
- How long do they expect families to risk everything at sea when there is no job security, no benefits, and no sustainable market for the catch?
- How long will Dominica tolerate a government that invests in photo ops for the few while neglecting the needs of the many?
Denise Charles-Pemberton openly declares, “Maritime is our backbone, our lifeline.” Here is the truth: Maritime is survival, not a backbone. Tourism, is the true backbone of a modern, prosperous Dominica, and it has been abandoned by this government. International investments are nonexistent. The industry is dying, and the government’s solution is a token gesture that looks good in a photo but accomplishes nothing.
Even worse, this government deliberately keeps communities like Soufrière, Dublanc and Bioche down because it cannot offer anything else. Imagine if these villages had steady jobs, reliable paychecks, and benefits, how could Skerrit possibly secure the votes he needs?
Thee communities would not need to rely on handouts, boats, or empty promises, they could fend for themselves. That is why Skerrit and Denise Charles-Pemberton manipulate the system: Skerrit using his psychology degree to get into people’s heads, figure out how to keep them dependent, and then his English degree to craft the narrative that convinces them to fall in line.
“You cannot come here and talk about no jelly man. Which jelly man you talking about? A jelly man? Let’s get serious in this country! A man running up and saying he is the jelly man. Jelly man what. What jelly man can do for you? What jelly man can do for you in Castle Bruce? Jelly man can build no house for you…what can jelly man do for you in Castle Bruce? Maybe give you a little jelly…that’s all. You pay five dollars you get a jelly… Roosevelt Skerrit”
Just like when Skerrit insulted Kelvin Cadette, a coconut vendor as “Jelly-Man,” exposing his disregard for hardworking farmers, the fishing boat giveaway shows the same strategy at work on a larger scale.
In Soufrière, Dublanc, and Bioche, he is not creating opportunities or promoting tourism, he is manipulating communities to keep them dependent, using token gifts to secure votes and distract from real failure. The coconut incident was a glimpse; this is the full picture, a government that thrives on control, not on lifting its people up.
Meanwhile, international investors are not fleeing Dominica, they are just not coming. They are investing everywhere else in the Caribbean, but here, why?
The only hotels being built are by locals, using our own CBI funds. The government is scared, corrupt, and incapable of leadership. The Skerrit government has spent over two decades chasing power and personal gain while Dominica’s economy stagnates. And now boats for a handful of fishermen? This is the height of absurdity.
The NEW Dominica Reform Party (DRP) offers a real alternative. Unlike the current regime, the DRP will:
- Revitalize Tourism Properly – Not with token gestures, but with internationally marketable campaigns, incentives for sustainable resorts, and investments that attract tourists from around the world. Tourism will be the backbone again—but one that creates real jobs and opportunity for Dominicans.
- End Wasted Handouts – We will stop throwing money at dead industries and small-scale token projects designed to buy votes. Funds will be redirected to initiatives that generate real growth, jobs, and skills development.
- Invest in the People, Not Photo Ops – The DRP will create programs that provide career pathways, training, and secure employment in emerging industries, renewable energy, hospitality, and tech—opportunities that do not risk lives at sea or rely on failing fisheries.
- Ensure Accountability and Transparency – No more personal favoritism or family cronies benefiting at the nation’s expense. Every dollar will be tracked, every project audited, and every citizen will have the right to know how public funds are spent.
- Attract Real International Investment – The DRP will create a business environment that investors trust, that is free from corruption, and that encourages sustainable development without forcing Dominicans to rely on handouts or dead-end industries.
Dominica does not need boats or empty promises. Dominica needs leadership. Dominica needs a government that works for the people, not for photo ops, votes, or personal gain. The current regime, Denise Charles-Pemberton, Skerrit, and their cronies have shown time and again that they are incapable of delivering results. The DRP is ready to step in, rebuild, and ensure that Dominica’s future is not sold for a photo op or a vote.
It is time to end the era of token gestures and start the era of real opportunity. The NEW Dominica Reform Party is the future Dominica deserves. Skerrit’s strategy is clear, keep people down, make them reliant, and ensure he controls the vote. Dominica deserves better than a government that thrives on dependency and fear while pretending to serve its people.
Team DRP